The Villainess Is An SS+ Rank Adventurer, Book 4 by Kaye Ng

Author:Kaye Ng [Ng, Kaye]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-02-16T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17: A Princess’s Tale

The lighthouse might very well be a decrepit tower perfectly in keeping with the aesthetics of the rest of the island, but the chamber housed at the top was anything but.

Aside from the debris which had mysteriously entered, the layout was hauntingly familiar.

Walnut armoires stood opposite full length mirrors, while burgundy and gold banners were draped across walls. Candle holders, goblets, lockboxes and more were strewn upon small tables and nightstands, all within reach of a bed covered in so many cushions and pillows that what fabric lay underneath could never be spied.

The reason was clear.

A brass frame burnished to resemble gold. An embarrassing eyesore amidst the higher standards on display. But I suppose even those of the highest standing could not have everything when so far from their official holdings.

Indeed, there could be no doubt!

This chamber belonged to royalty!

And that girl … was a princess.

“A letter knife inlaid with black opals?” I mused, peering down at the streak of silver as it glimmered against the light of so many candles. “How quaint. I had one of these when I was younger.”

Coppelia, unlike myself, wasn’t content with merely judging. She picked up a small hand mirror and admired the front of her fluffy hair. And then she began plucking the tiny pearls from its rim.

“A letter knife or black opals?” she queried.

“Both. It’s a common gift for young princesses. Black opals are said to absorb misfortune, particularly ill news. By having the gemstone inlaid upon the letter knife, it’s hoped that any negative correspondence can be warded away.”

“What happens if you use something that’s not, you know, stupid expensive?”

“We use black diamonds instead.”

“Wait, isn’t that more expensive?”

“It is.”

“Soooooo … if stupid expensive is no good, you default to crazy stupid expensive?”

“Royalty does not descend a ladder once climbed, Coppelia. We only go upwards.”

I walked to one of the banners, then brushed a fingertip across the fabric. Pure silk. No dilution with linen. Here were drapes designed to be hung across royal bed chambers to hide whatever wine marked blemishes the servants had made when tripping over themselves.

So why … ?

No matter how diligently placed the furniture and decoration was, this could still never be anything other than a pale imitation of a princess’s abode.

Were this the interior of a hastily erected pavilion, then the attendants tasked with hoisting the 1200 pound armoire replete with dresses, shoes and riding attire would be thoroughly chastised for their lack of work ethics.

Clearly, this princess possessed deeply troubling circumstances of her own.

Perhaps even worse than mine.

A wildly charitable thought, of course, given that my regular accommodation these nights consisted of whatever inns the rodents hadn’t completely eaten through yet. And yet judging by the signet ring I spied within one of the lockboxes, it was a horrifying idea I needed to give credence to.

I picked up the silver ring, then grimaced.

“Now here is a toy someone merely playing at princess wouldn’t possess.”

“What is it?”

“A royal signet ring not unlike my own, bearing the seal of the Royal House of Carx.

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